God Speaks
61 For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be accompanied by stringed instruments.
1 O God, listen to my cry!
Hear my prayer!
2 From the ends of the earth,
I cry to you for help
when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
3 for you are my safe refuge,
a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary,
safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Interlude
5 For you have heard my vows, O God.
You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name.
6 Add many years to the life of the king!
May his years span the generations!
7 May he reign under God’s protection forever.
May your unfailing love and faithfulness watch over him.
8 Then I will sing praises to your name forever
as I fulfill my vows each day.
62 For Jeduthun, the choir director: A psalm of David.
1 I wait quietly before God,
for my victory comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will never be shaken.
3 So many enemies against one man—
all of them trying to kill me.
To them I’m just a broken-down wall
or a tottering fence.
4 They plan to topple me from my high position.
They delight in telling lies about me.
They praise me to my face
but curse me in their hearts. Interlude
5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,
for my hope is in him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken.
7 My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.
8 O my people, trust in him at all times.
Pour out your heart to him,
for God is our refuge. Interlude
9 Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind,
and the powerful are not what they appear to be.
If you weigh them on the scales,
together they are lighter than a breath of air.
10 Don’t make your living by extortion
or put your hope in stealing.
And if your wealth increases,
don’t make it the center of your life.
11 God has spoken plainly,
and I have heard it many times:
Power, O God, belongs to you;
12 unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.
Surely you repay all people
according to what they have done.
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Psalm 61: Oh, don’t we all long to be listened to, especially by God, Someone who really can do something about our concerns? Wherever we are, we cry out for help when we are overwhelmed by whatever is troubling us. God is the ultimate place of safety. We long to live in that safe place forever. God takes note of the promises we make when we are seeking rescue. Ultimate rescue comes to those who fear and honor the LORD God. The mention of the king here may be David himself as he ruled Israel as its second monarch, or it could be applied to Messiah Jesus. Those who fear His name can also apply it to their own lives and situations. This should result in them fulfilling their promises and offering unending praise.
Psalm 62: Those who know and love the LORD are to wait quietly on Him, because our true victory comes from Him. Salvation (rescue) is both now and in the future. The Triune God alone is our bomb shelter and hiding place. When everything and everyone is coming against us, we can turn to God for safety and protection (salvation). Our hope is found in Him (Christ). Our victory and honor come from God alone; human beings cannot save us. God alone has the ability and unfailing love to see the true motives behind each person’s words and actions and to deal with them properly, now and for eternity.
Prayer: Dear LORD God who listens to each person’s heart-cry, thank You. Wherever I am, I can cry out for help when I am overwhelmed by whatever is troubling me. You, LORD God, are the ultimate place of safety. I long to live in that safe place forever. You, God, take note of the promises I make when I am seeking rescue. Ultimate rescue comes to those who fear and honor Jesus, as the LORD God. Like King David, I ask for years added to my life (and vibrant life added to my years). Those who fear Your name can also apply this principle to our own lives and situations. May this result in my fulfilling my promises and offering unending praise to You, my dear Savior. May I know and love You, LORD, so that I can wait quietly on YOU. My true victory will come from You. Your promise of salvation (rescue) is for both now and the future. You, the Triune God, alone are my bomb shelter and hiding place. When everything and everyone is coming against me, I can turn to You for safety and protection (salvation). My only hope is found in Christ Jesus. My victory and honor come from You alone, O God; human beings cannot save me. You alone have the ability and unfailing love to see the true motives behind each person’s words and actions and to deal with them properly, now and for eternity. I trust You completely. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will daily cry out to God in prayer, especially when I need rescuing from something that is overwhelming me.
- I will end each day this week by writing at least one sentence about how I have feared and/or honored God that day.
- I will memorize Psalm 62:2 (and 6, as they are nearly identical) as well as verses 11 and 12. Then I can remind myself of who God is and what He does to rescue and protect me.
- I will model for someone close to me what it means to trust God completely and to find safety and rest in Him.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.